Way too early look at the 2026 draft

[Low Positive]

5 hours ago, Bill from NYC said:

Me too. SO shocked that I might wind up in the hospital to be medicated if such a surprise occurence were to take place. 

You want to see a football team try to play with no DBs, don't ya? Just rush all 11 guys. What could go wrong?

[Sweats]

Honestly, i'm not really impressed thus far with whoever comes out in the next draft. I really don't think the pool is very deep at any position, except maybe LB and they might go off the boards fast, so it might be the perfect time for Buffalo to stockpile some picks IMHO.

[Brand J]

A fast and rangy FS is #1 on my wish list, followed by LB. Could that FS be Hancock in year 2? One can hope!

[Ralonzo]

13 hours ago, NeverOutNick said:

I would 100% give up next year‘s first round pick in order to get two first round picks to be able to move up for one of the studs in the 2027 draft but even then I’d still draft a wide receiver next year in the third or fourth round. There are always good receivers in that range. Just need a decent scouting department. Look at Teslaa, Lions traded a few 6th round picks to move up and grab him. 

 

The Lions traded effectively 3 3rd round picks (2025 #102 + 2026 DET 3rd + 2026 DET comp 3rd for Aaron Glenn) to move up for Teslaa (at 2025 #70 + 2025 #182 + 2026 6th) who most had projected late day-3 until he blew up the combine.

[Ralonzo]

Also, for those of you who are Athletic supporters:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6522767/2025/08/04/college-football-freaks-list-ohio-state-jeremiah-smith/

 

Edited September 23 by Ralonzo

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Sweats said:

Honestly, i'm not really impressed thus far with whoever comes out in the next draft. I really don't think the pool is very deep at any position, except maybe LB and they might go off the boards fast, so it might be the perfect time for Buffalo to stockpile some picks IMHO.

 

I think it is going to be a slight down class (especially CB, WR, OT, pass rushing DE).... ahead of a class in 2027 that looks long range forecast special. Linebacker, safety and defensive ends that don't really pop as pass rushers are where I can see there being some guys. Running back too possibly.

[Nephilim17]

I'd like to see interior O-line, a safety and a size/speed WR prospect (not necessarily in the first couple rounds but not 6th round either).

[Ralonzo]

6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think it is going to be a slight down class (especially CB, WR, OT, pass rushing DE).... ahead of a class in 2027 that looks long range forecast special. Linebacker, safety and defensive ends that don't really pop as pass rushers are where I can see there being some guys. Running back too possibly.

 

If Ray Davis doesn't want to be Ray Davis anymore the Bills could go find someone who does. It's a shame because the Bills could use a Montgomery thunder-type to complement the Gibbs/Cook lightning-type, and Davis was much more of that last year than currently. Maybe someone like Hishaw if he's around late late due to the injury concerns.

[Bill from NYC]

2 hours ago, Low Positive said:

You want to see a football team try to play with no DBs, don't ya? Just rush all 11 guys. What could go wrong?

No, I ilke your way. Let's keep the primary focus on the secondary. 

Edited September 23 by Bill from NYC

[RyanC883]

I'd like a safety in Rd. 1, trade up if a potential day 1 starter at LB/WR/CB falls to Rd. 2.  

also, number 32 could be a spot to get a great backup for Cook, unless Davis turns it on.  He appears to have regressed signifigantly.  

[RyanC883]

here is a decently in-depth mock draft with writeups on some players and why the author picked them where he did.  Not crazy about another Rd. 1 CB, but eh, some other names proposed in here ended up in Rd. 1.  

 

On another note, I wonder if the Clemson DL guys start falling if they keep getting knocked around.  

 

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-updated-dante-moore-fernando-mendoza-garrett-nussmeier-lanorris-sellers-arch-manning-cade-klubnik-drew-allar

[GunnerBill]

25 minutes ago, Bill from NYC said:

No, I ilke your way. Let's keep the primary focus on the secondary. 

 

The primary focus of this regime has been on defensive line. 

[BillsShredder83]

Calling an early shot here.... less sexy than a bunch of others who will posts.

 

USC, LB, Eric Gentry. 6' 6". 7foot 1" wing span.  Late round/UDFA guy.  His athleticism matches up pretty well with Tremaine. Very versatile player. Above average instincts.  His giant glaring problem.... he's ~220-225lbs. Needs to bulk up massively.

 

I'll be honest, without bulking up majorly, he belongs in a 3-4 defense.  However, he strikes me as a guy McBeane would be intrigued by, and take in a very late round to try and work with the kid.

 

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST FOLKS!!

[BillsShredder83]

19 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

I know there are those of you who don't want to think about the draft at all in September.  Hopefully, you didn't even open this thread.  I follow mock drafts all year long.  If you are always interested, like me, this is what I'm seeing. 

 

There could be a bunch of QBs drafted in the first round.  There are up to nine that could go.  I don't think that will happen.  It will be more like 5 to 7.  Presumably, the Bills will be drafting late. hopefully at #32.  If that is the case, there will be a limit to what is available, of course.

 

If you're thinking nose tackle, you can forget it.  There just aren't any.  You might think the Bills could draft Caleb Banks out of Florida, but he's not a nose tackle.  He's actually a lot like Deone Walker.  He could line up anywhere on the line, but he's not the guy you want if you're looking for a guy just to tie up blockers and plug gaps.  If Buffalo drafts a nose tackle, I'm pretty confident it won't be in the first round.

 

Do you want a defensive end?  Depending on who drops, you're looking mostly at big guys who are probably not going to be true edge benders.  Several of them are highly rated based mostly on perceived potential and maybe run defending skills, not big-time sack production.  Dani-Dennis Sutton, LT Overton, Matayo Uiagalelei.  The exception to this list might be David Bailey, often listed as a linebacker.  He is a fast edge bender who is 6'3" and 240 lbs.  

 

Maybe you're thinking a linebacker, if you're thinking the Bills can't depend on Matt Milano to say healthy any more.  There is some variety here.   Anthony Hill Jr has decent size , great speed and has good instincts.  One of the few knocks on him is he can be overaggressive and bite on fakes.  C J Allen is plenty fast and is known as an outstanding run defender.  If you're interested in Tremaine Edmunds 2.0 you might like Sonny Styles.  He's very young, has great speed (sub 4.5) and great size.  He's a former safety who can cover, but he's still fairly new to the linebacker position, so he's still learning.  

 

I think a lot of us think safety is a real position of need for the Bills.  A good possibility might be Dillon Thieneman.  He's very smart, hits hard, has decent size at 6' and 207 lbs.  He has elite speed, running a 4.35 40.

 

So, you want to go offense?  I can't see Buffalo looking at many offensive spots in round one.  There is IMO no chance Buffalo would draft a QB, RB, TE or OT in round 1.  I've seen the argument made that Buffalo could choose not to re-sign Conner McGovern because of cap issues.  If that is what you think, you might be interested in Jake Slaughter from Florida.  The only other position that seems to be any possibility at all is wide receiver.  There are not a lot of possibilities.  Carnell Tate has good size and good speed for his size, which is to say he's not a burner.  Eric Singleton Jr.  is a bit under 6 foot and very fast.  Antonio Williams is the same size as Singleton, but not as fast.  He's still pretty explosive  Then, there is Nyck Harbor, who has Megatron-like measurables (6'5" 235 lbs 4.24 40 - not a typo) but doesn't garner much first round hype.  His production doesn't match his hype, but his technical shortcomings seem like they could be coached up. 

 

Some of these players will get picked before Buffalo has a shot.  Others will drop out of first round consideration while other players rise to take their place, but now, in early fall, this is what I'm seeing.

 

 

You had me reading angrily till right about here "Then, there is Nyck Harbor, who has Megatron-like measurables (6'5" 235 lbs 4.24 40 - not a typo) but doesn't garner much first round hype."  LOL kidding, (mostly).  Where we are picking, I'd run to the podium, with a pitchfork in case anyone tried to slow me down... but I understand if ppl aren't happy about the reach.  If you're wanting to trade down to get him, I'm ok with it, but I want him in that Keon Coleman/Tee Higgins #33 pick, as I cant see anybody willing to pass on the absolute freak monster.... we've been burned before doing the same w/ Metcalf

[The Jokeman]

4 hours ago, Nephilim17 said:

I'd like to see interior O-line, a safety and a size/speed WR prospect (not necessarily in the first couple rounds but not 6th round either).

With McGovern and Torrence both having contracts expiring we could be in need for an interior Olineman. I suppose depends on SVPG's development.

[Nephilim17]

5 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

With McGovern and Torrence both having contracts expiring we could be in need for an interior Olineman. I suppose depends on SVPG's development.

Even with his average pass blocking, Torrence could see a huge payday as a free agent. Perhaps Bean makes it work, but maybe it's an opportunity to save close to $20 million a year — if you find a great rookie. Big If, of course.

Even if we resign him, I think having linemen in the pipeline is always a good idea.

[In Summary]

I want whoever is making the draft picks in the later rounds to be making the picks in the early rounds. 

[Thrivefourfive]

It’s linebacker and it’s gotta hit. Which I think goes against the Bills four year plan that started with the 2025 draft. Hammer defense 2025. WR for 2026, and more of a balance between offense and defense. They may have to delay help for Josh until the 2027 draft. 

[GunnerBill]

11 hours ago, Nephilim17 said:

Even with his average pass blocking, Torrence could see a huge payday as a free agent. Perhaps Bean makes it work, but maybe it's an opportunity to save close to $20 million a year — if you find a great rookie. Big If, of course.

Even if we resign him, I think having linemen in the pipeline is always a good idea.

 

Cybo is off to his best start as a pro. He was good vs the Jets and very good vs Miami. I do wonder whether that plays him off the Bills if it continues. I think if you are paying both tackles you need to circumspect with the interior. I'd pay my center before I'd pay my guards. 

[TFBillsfan]

DT, LB, S are all needs for us.

 

Assuming it’s highly likely DaQuon Jones and Matt Milano don’t return so let’s send them out with a SB ring!